Zimbabwe: Musicians attacked for singing in native language

25 January 2018

Photo: Jeys Marabini and his band/Facebook

On 24 November 2017, Zimbabwean musician Jeys Marabini and his band were attacked by audience members for singing in their native IsiNdebele language during their performance at the inauguration of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, reported Zimbabwean news portal Bulawayo24 and entertainment news source Urban Culxure.

“As we began to sing our Ndebele songs that the organisers of the event invited us knowingly that we sing such songs, part of the multitudes began to catcall at us ‘atindzwi Ndebele’ meaning we do not understand isiNdebele language. This then led to cans, plastic bottles amongst other items being thrown at myself and the Kozekulunge band”, Marabini wrote on his official Facebook page.

In the social media post the musician added that when event organisers failed to intervene he stopped the performance and addressed the crowd to stop promoting tribalism: “It’s so painful that after 37 years of attaining independence as a nation we are still having this kind of a problem of tribalism. As a musician I personally believe that music builds bridges and unites people. It is critical that this issue be addressed in this New Zimbabwe failure to do so we have a problem as Zimbabweans.”

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